Bourne's Energy to Open Biofuel Blending Facility

Bourne's Energy, Morrisville, Vt., has announced the grand opening of the first local biofuel blending plant in the central Vermont area. Bourne's Energy was awarded a $45,000 grant through the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund to support the development of an injection-blending operation for biodiesel, allowing it to supply B5, B10, B20 and B99.9 blends of fuel on demand. Bourne notes that the use of biodiesel reduces pollution from vehicles as well as home and commercial heating.

"We've been working closely with farmers, entrepreneurs and industry leaders for a number of years to increase the local production and local use of biofuels in Vermont," says Netaka White, Bioenergy program director of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) and special supporting guest at the 1:00 p.m. ribbon-cutting for the grand opening. "Bourne's Energy continues to be a leader in their field by helping Vermont homes and businesses become more energy efficient and helping them move towards cleaner and greener heating and transportation fuels.

“These biofuel blending plants will do more to put renewable, low emission biodiesel into more homes and vehicles than any other investment VSJF has made towards Vermont biofuel infrastructure. This is a great new opportunity for Vermonters to experience the 'biodiesel difference', with a high quality biofuel blend, made locally from recycled cooking oils and mixed in this state-of-the art facility," White says.

Liz Miller, commissioner of the Vermont Dept. of Public Service, notes that increasing biofuel usage in the state is a key strategy supporting greater energy independence and lower emissions. "A great deal of the biodiesel now consumed in Vermont is used for transportation purposes in heavy-duty vehicles such as buses, commercial trucks and off-road agricultural equipment.”

“Bourne's customers also currently use biodiesel blended with heating oil (typically a B5 blend) to meet a portion of the state's thermal needs. Bourne's facility is a great development it will offer Vermonters a way to conveniently access these fuels and easily reduce their pollution contribution. This is very promising for the continuing increase we hope to see in biodiesel use,” she adds.

Peter Bourne says he is ready to supply the community with alternative heating and fuel solutions without compromising the food chain or creating other environmental issues.

"The production of Bourne's biofuel is an interesting journey," says Bourne. "[Biofuel] begins at local eateries as used cooking grease, which is picked up and recycled by a partner company, White Mountain Diesel. Bourne's collects the future fuel and brings it to the biofuel blending plant where it's converted/blended into bioheat or biodiesel."

"Is there a big price break for using biofuel at this time? Honestly, no, but it doesn't cost any more either. So I guess it comes down to a matter of doing the right thing," says Bourne.